Between the removal of mist and the crazy sale we just had... How is OOO going to stabilize their monetary profit from SK outside of these events? People might not buy energy during no sale or event times...
Why is OOO so nice now?
Thu, 08/22/2013 - 06:03
Thu, 08/22/2013 - 06:34
#2
RAWR
I still think the sale was an overdue cash grab on the people who came for the pets. If I ran SK I would have done the same. Problem is, are people willing to continue buying the upcoming promos, since this was a "mega" sale?
Also upkeep rate reduction. I know many guilds spend irl money to pay upkeep. Now that upkeep has reduced for everyone, what's their income from there? Furniture splurging?
Thu, 08/22/2013 - 09:29
#3
Eez gewd!
I will say I like what they've done as of the recent huge update to the energy system.
I've watched a few F2P games and how their profit model works. You can almost categorize all of them into two categories, Pay-to-win and otherwise. Pay-to-win is not the way to go about it. These are games like Tribes: Ascend where you can buy all the classes you want if you have enough money, or invest 600 hours and only unlock 3 classes. Even worse, there are some games that feature super powerful items exclusive to those who pay money.
Spiral Knights seems to be moving to a better place considering you can find fire crystals, sparks of life, and orbs of alchemy in the arcade and missions. So you can make it through the whole game without spending a cent or even using crowns to buy CE and not struggling either. In the end it will be more profitable. Players of F2P games will feel less inclined to spend money if they have to, and if they're having fun while not spending money, they'll feel more inclined to eventually spend money, if that makes sense. For example League of Legends makes a buttload of money, and that's purely off of skins.
A lot of friends of mine were resistant to continue playing Spiral Knights after they found they needed to craft 3* items since it required them to buy energy and couldn't just use mist energy. Now they'll feel more inclined to continue if they can find orbs of alchemy and later on, they might just say "screw it" and buy $10 or $20 worth of CE time to time to get all the 5* gear they want.
Thu, 08/22/2013 - 07:25
#4
industry is figuring out F2P
I'm certainly no expert on the games industry, but casual reading on the web suggests that more and more game firms are tweaking their free-to-play (F2P) systems, as they slowly figure out what the gaming public wants and how to maintain a crucial mass of players. I would not be surprised if the industry actually converged on one or two "best practices" for F2P in the next five years or so.
It is reasonable to view many of Three Rings' moves as experiments toward this end: Shadow Lairs, Operation Crimson Hammer, the removal of mist energy, the orb of alchemy/fire crystal/spark of life triad, etc.
Thu, 08/22/2013 - 10:36
#5
It is simple. OOO found
It is simple. OOO found something else more lucrative and no longer needs our petty change.
But we inspire them so that's why they keep us around.
Thu, 08/22/2013 - 10:50
#6
Out of curiosity, what is
Out of curiosity, what is this "something more lucrative" they found? I don't have their earnings reports in front of me, so I don't know if you're referring to Puzzle Pirates, that new Doctor Who MMO, or something else.
Thu, 08/22/2013 - 12:23
#7
Maybe Nick won the lottery.
Maybe Nick won the lottery.
Thu, 08/22/2013 - 13:59
#8
.....
I am shocked myself, all these new changes are going to benefit the game in the long run. Guilds will be able to easily attain upkeep fees both with reduction and free elevators. Major plus in my book and I'm sure more players will be staying in the long run both old and new. They are definitely making some headway and changing some perceptions, now about that tortodrone or (cough) magnus buff.
Thu, 08/22/2013 - 16:06
#9
They'll think up of something.
I'm definitely sure of it (too lazy to make an anchor link)
The crazy sale was to cover the loss of energy, they weren't just being nice there >.>